Beads are the most vital materials when making hand-crafted beaded jewelry and obviously they function to make your Polymer Clay Jewelry more beautiful.  As everyone knows, there are wide sorts of beads of different types.  One of the hottest kinds of bead is the Fimo bead.  How to make a fimo bead is really easy, and I will teach you how to do it. 

Fimo is formed from polymer clay, and just like other modeling clay, Fimo is man-made.  Using this clay, you can create differing types of beads.  Polymer clay is a synthetic product made from polyvinyl chloride and combined with color pigment and plastic.  You can warm the clay with your hands to get it malleable, before toughening it through the baking process.  One good thing when baking is it doesn’t change the size and color of the clay.  When baking, it is advisable to use a convection oven.  You do not need to use your ordinary oven if you are going to be baking clay often , you’ll find ones that will be available at your local thrift store for a less expensive cost.  When using ovens and other heat tools it is best to research Safety Tips in Jewelry Making. 

Malleability, I mentioned this word earlier, this is the most vital aspect you have to consider when creating hand-crafted clay beads prior to baking.  Another critical side of the clay is its flexibility and strength when it is already completed.  They are available in rainbow colors, so you have plenty of color option to select from, just let you creativity and imagination run wild when creating Fimo beads. 

The first step in making Fimo beads is to take approximately one once of clay.  Squeeze the clay and gently warm them by your hands, and roll it into a long thin snake, continuously repeat this process till the clay stretches out, without breaking in to pieces when pulled apart.  Try to manage the clay long enough to help you remove some air that is trap in the clay.  Cut your block of clay into slabs just a bit thicker of the widest setting of your oven.  Put the cut slab through the oven, fold it in half and send through again. 

In the baking process, most brands bake between 250 – 275F so just be certain to check the directions.  Cook the clay for a minimum of 30 mins, actual time of baking is very important to keep the clay absolutely fused.  However if you don’t heat the clay correctly, you will finish up with feeble finished product.  A very important reminder, don’t breathe in the fumes of the clay while baking, it’s required to use an exhaust fan, inhaling the smoke can be unsafe.  The clay will retain its workability if they are stored properly, so keep them away from direct sunlight ; don’t put them near heat, in plastic bags or plastic boxes. 

After that, get your clay; roll it into sheets, in your chosen thickness.  You may use a sheet of wax paper for easy cleaning up after working.  You will need a pointy cutting blade and you must keep it separately with your other materials for safety.  Use steel weaving needles to suspend your Fimo beads while baking, this will help stop forming a flat surface and keeps the shape intact.  You can choose whether you’ll drill holes in your beads after baking or you’ll make holes in your unbaked clay.